Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to determine the sustainability of the two major resources-coal and nuclear-for the production of electricity. The laboratory compares coal, which is the more traditional energy producing resource, to nuclear, which is considered the more modern energy resource. The laboratory demonstrates the amount of material needed, the wastes produced and potential effects from a catastrophe.
Introduction
According to the United States Department of Energy (2013), coal is the most plentiful fuel in the fossil family and it has the longest and, perhaps, the most varied history and has been in use for heating since the cave. Coal has been used by Native Americans for heating and cooking, however, the burning of coal to generate electricity is a relative newcomer in the long history of this fossil fuel man (Fossil Energy: A …show more content…
Methods …show more content…
Research has shown that the burning of fossil fuels produce an extreme amount of carbon dioxide, which is a primary contributor to air pollution and ozone depletion. Additionally, the burning of coal is an inefficient method for producing energy. The data also shows a fraction of uranium is needed to generate nuclear energy and the waste manufactured is also minute when compared to coal. Based on the data provided, coal manufactured nearly 2600 times more waste than a nuclear based power plant. All in all, nuclear energy is more sustainable than coal and the results based on these figures confirms my hypothesis. Ultimately, nuclear energy is economically practical and poses less impact on the environment and public
The purpose of this lab is to determine the sustainability of the two major resources-coal and nuclear-for the production of electricity. The laboratory compares coal, which is the more traditional energy producing resource, to nuclear, which is considered the more modern energy resource. The laboratory demonstrates the amount of material needed, the wastes produced and potential effects from a catastrophe.
Introduction
According to the United States Department of Energy (2013), coal is the most plentiful fuel in the fossil family and it has the longest and, perhaps, the most varied history and has been in use for heating since the cave. Coal has been used by Native Americans for heating and cooking, however, the burning of coal to generate electricity is a relative newcomer in the long history of this fossil fuel man (Fossil Energy: A …show more content…
Methods …show more content…
Research has shown that the burning of fossil fuels produce an extreme amount of carbon dioxide, which is a primary contributor to air pollution and ozone depletion. Additionally, the burning of coal is an inefficient method for producing energy. The data also shows a fraction of uranium is needed to generate nuclear energy and the waste manufactured is also minute when compared to coal. Based on the data provided, coal manufactured nearly 2600 times more waste than a nuclear based power plant. All in all, nuclear energy is more sustainable than coal and the results based on these figures confirms my hypothesis. Ultimately, nuclear energy is economically practical and poses less impact on the environment and public